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Ria Saha ¹, Anjali Giressan ², Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology University of Calcutta, Kolkata, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, IN

Abstract

The study examined the impact of adverse childhood experiences on mental health of a group of 400 undergraduate students (221 females and 189 males) especially on self-esteem, satisfaction with life, feeling of security and suicidal ideation. Findings revealed that 70.8% (283/400) of the students experienced some form of adverse childhood experiences (57.5% males and 81.4% females). Out of the total of 283 subjects who experienced some form of abuse, about 49.5% (198/400), 37.8% (151/400), and 27% (108/400) of them experienced verbal/ psychological, physical, and sexual abuse respectively during childhood while 25.5% (102/400) witnessed violence in the family. A good number of them had multiple adverse childhood experiences. So far as impact of abuse on mental health is concerned, a direct link was found between childhood adverse experience and low self-esteem (p<0.001), and feeling of security (p<0.001). A significant difference was found between abused male and female students with respect to their self-esteem (p< 0.01), feeling of security (p<0.05) and life satisfaction (p <0.001) scores. Abused students, especially females were found to be more likely to develop a negative image about themselves and their lives than that of non-abused students. Suicidal ideation was more prevalent among abused students, irrespective of gender as compared to non-abused ones (p<0.05).

Keywords

Adverse Childhood Experience, Impact, Mental Health, Student

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Ria Saha ¹, Anjali Giressan ², Sibnath Deb ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Applied Psychology, University of Calcutta, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN
2 Department of Applied Psychology, Pondicherry University, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, IN

Abstract

Violence against children has become a grave reality and a global phenomenon. The increasing rate of reported violence against children prompted the researchers to carry out a retrospective study on this issue among Kolkata college students to get a better idea about the issue. It is believed that college students may not be hesitant to share childhood incidence of abuse since they are matured now. The main objective of the current study was to ascertain the prevalence and nature of violence experienced by the students during childhood in Kolkata and its association with income. A group of 400 undergraduate and graduate students (221 females and 189 males) and were in the aged ranging between 18 and 25 years participated in the study voluntarily and data were collected by using a through specially designed "semi-structured questionnaire." Findings revealed that 70.8% (283/400) of the students experienced some form of violence during childhood as reported (57.5% males and 81.4% females) and in this regard significant difference was observed (P<0.001). Of the total subjects who experienced some form of violence, about 49.5% (198/400), 37.8% (151/400), and 27% (108/400) experienced verbal/psychological, physical, and sexual violence respectively, while 25.5% (102/400) of the students witnessed violence within the family. Further analysis revealed that male and female students differed significantly in experiencing verbal violence (P<0.001), physical violence (P<0.001), sexual violence (P<0.001). Furthermore, violence was observed to prevail more in lower and higher income groups rather than middle income group (P<0.05). The issue requires attention of the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Child Welfare Committee.

Keywords

Incidence, Student, Violence.

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